9 comments/ 16074 views/ 4 favorites Journey to Carlin By: the_cardinal Author's note: I wrote a shorter version of this story around 1997 and posted it online, but it vanished. I'm glad to revisit this story and give it a permanent home at literotica.com. The story is set in a fantasy world that is hopefully consistent and lifelike. If you liked the story, please leave a comment. If you notice anything contrived, contradictory or unbelievably silly, contact me. I'm open to suggestions. Lastly, I would like to thank lillibet for proofreading and editorial assistance (and for still being useful). Enjoy. * A light drizzle came from an overcast sky. The horses' hooves made soggy noises in the muddy road that led through the tiny village. The two riders looked at the motley collection of dilapidated houses. Only one house was made of stone, but weeds grew from the cracks and seems. "If this is Oak Grove, then what did they do with the oaks?" the first one, a tall man, said quietly. His companion, a woman with long black hair, silently pointed at a stack of timber lying between two houses. Two men stood chatting near the stub of a tree; their axes standing upright. They lowered their voices when they noticed the two riders. The tall man nodded in greeting. The men just stared. "Over there," the woman said. "That house? Do you recognize it still?" he asked her. He reigned in his horse as she dismounted. "They put a new roof on it, but it's still the same." She started to walk to the door and caught herself. Smiling nervously at him, she added: "I guess Fedya wizened up and had someone do it for him. He never could fix roofs, you know." She slowly walked up to the door and knocked. A moment later the door opened a few inches. There was no light inside, and all she could see was an eye peering suspiciously at her and her companion. "What do you want?" "I am Abigail of Briar's Veil. I am looking for Fedya." "He ain't here." Managing a weak smile, she added: "I-I was hoping you could tell me where he is. I'm an old friend and..." The door was opened another two inches. The eye was accompanied by an unshaven face and brown curly hair. The man sized her up and scowled. "He doesn't live here anymore," he replied curtly. The woman stared at him until the man added: "That's all I know. Go away." His eyes darted from her to the tall man, who was leaning on his saddle. It looked as if he were bored with the whole situation. "But I just want to know..." Curly stepped out, his hand on the knife on his belt. Not taking his eyes off the tall man, he started: "Are you hard of hearing, mongrel? Get off my property!" The tall rider pulled his sword in one fluent motion. Curly took a step back and swallowed. The woman held her hand up and the rider waited. "You got rid of him, didn't you," she said softly. "No, he got the fever and died. I just took his house, alright? That's not against the law!" The woman turned and mounted. "Let's go, Ukko," she said evenly. She mounted her horse, turned and left. Ukko looked at the man a moment longer, and then sheathed his sword without taking his eyes off of him. Curly slowly moved his hand away from the knife. "You have a nice day now, sir," Ukko sneered. Then he turned and set after his companion. He caught up with her outside the village. "You alright?" "Never better," she replied grimly. "Do you want to stay..." Abigail spurred her horse into a gallop. "Neither do I," he muttered, following suit. * * * At the edge of Keren's Forest they found a single stone wall, the last remainder of a small chapel dedicated to Koriel, the Watcher. A good place to spend the night, Ukko decided. They dismounted and unsaddled the horses. By unspoken agreement, Abigail tended to the horses while Ukko started to gather dry wood for a fire. They ate the peppered meat rations and divided the five juicy pears between them. "Sorry about your friend, Ears," he said. Abigail unrolled her blanket and sighed. "I know he got rid of Fedya. Probably burned his body before anyone could verify the story. But what can you do?" She took a big bite out of a pear. The juice ran down her chin and neck and she hastily tried to catch it with her other hand. Something rustled in the undergrowth. Their eyes met. "Don't worry about it," she said softly. Ukko nodded and poked in the fire with a long stick. With a swift move he lobbed a burning branch into the bushes, which instantly caught fire. At that moment two goblins, jumped out of the tree next to the wall and started wailing a battle cry. Several goblins jumped from the bushes, although screams suggested at least one must still be in there. Ukko had jumped up and drawn his longsword before the branch had come down. He dropped to one knee and brought his weapon up in a defending arc, slicing up the arm of an goblin. Abigail was circling two goblins and planted a dagger in another. "Stupid humans always go here!" one goblin hissed at Ukko. "They think the big god Koriel watches, so they are safe!" He parried two of Ukko's blows and continued: "Now die while Koriel wa -" The goblin folded around Ukko's boot and slammed into the wall. "Hold this," Ukko snarled to a wailing goblin and thrust his sword cleanly through its chest. He grabbed the goblin he'd just kicked and threw him into two others who were trying to slip away with the saddle bags. Abigail was momentarily startled by the appearance of a screaming goblin whose arm was on fire. Another goblin dropped down from the tree and knocked her short sword out of her hand with a spiked club. She pushed the stinking creature against the tree and slid its throat with the dagger. Dark drops of blood sprayed over her face. The point of a dagger slid across the many metallic rivulets of the armor on her back. She dropped down on the ground and picked up her sword. Three goblins jumped on top her - one impaling himself on her dagger. "Kill the female!" one behind her cried. She managed to kill another, but the third sat squarely one top of her and had its hands around her neck. They wrestled, rolling over until she hit the wall. Gasping for air Abigail felt the strength draining from her arms. She stared at the ugly creature with its sour breath and its stinking rags for armor and focussed all her murderous rage. She grabbed the goblin's scrawny neck and started to beat its head against the wall. The goblin let go of her neck and died shortly after its skull was busted open on the uneven stone. And then it was over. Abigail leaned against the wall with one trembling, blood-soaked hand, trying to balance herself and steady her ragged breathing. They stamped out burning bushes and dragged the dead bodies a ways into the forest and covered the goblins in dirt, so that other creatures would not be attracted by the smell of death. Only then they found time to check each other over. "They cut you," Abigail remarked. Ukko held out his arm as she took care of a cut that had started to bleed. "There's some ban..." Ukko cut her short by giving her the bandages. He gritted his teeth when she started to squeeze out the wound, and was glad she didn't see it. He studied her face as she wrapped the bandages around his arm, her lips pursed in concentration. Caked mud and blood freckles covered her cheeks and nose and her hair was a mess. And she never looked lovelier. He wondered briefly how he could put a smile back on her face. "Your face is a mess," he told her. She nodded absentmindedly. "When isn't it?" Ukko moved his arm about, making hacking and parrying movements. He nodded to himself, satisfied. "Come here," he said. He poured water from his waterskin over a piece of cloth and started to clean her face. Abigail stood still, almost stoicly, as he gently wiped the dirt off her face. Her warm breath caressed his hand in little puffs, which was distracting. His mouth suddenly felt dry. Her eyes never left his face. "Thank you," she said softly. Reluctantly, Ukko finished and withdrew. "You're welcome. Anything else you want me to do?" Abigail hesitated a moment and smiled crookedly. "I'm fine." Later, when Ukko had fallen asleep, Abigail sat at the fire, hugging her knees and watched him sleep. She wrapped her blanket around her and sighed. * * * The next night they camped at the edge of a lake not far from Oak Grove. As usual, Abigail fed and took care of the horses and Ukko prepared the evening meal. He roasted the two rabbits they'd caught in their snares two days ago and filled their waterskins with fresh water from the lake. Making sure that their fire was not visible from across the lake he wondered why his companion had been so lost in thoughts the past couple of days. She was brooding over something. His gently prodding questions hadn't yielded any results yet. But at least her unwillingness to talk had given him ample opportunity to think. After a somewhat rocky start they had warmed up to each other. Although he was the only one with whom she could spar, Ukko believed she would have chosen him as a sparring partner anyway, even if she'd had the choice. She never complained, to a fault. She preferred to solve the problem at hand herself rather than ask somebody else in the group for help. He admired the way she never laughed at other people's expense. She was very refreshing after experiencing the ladies of the big city who seemed so full of themselves and talked the entire evening and, if they could, after that. "So what's eating you, Ears?" Ukko teased. Abigail was not in the mood. "Will you stop please calling me that?" She led her mare down to the waterside where she could drink. Ukko shook his head and dug out his salt pouch from the saddlebags. "Dinner's ready," he announced after a while. They ate for the most part in silence. Sitting opposite her and having the advantage of added height Ukko watched Abigail eat. Her eyes focussing on the task at hand she gently tore off small pieces of meat with her mouth. From time to time she licked the dripping off her long, slender fingers. There was an unstudied elegance about her eating, the same unconscious grace applying to most other things she did. "We should reach the Wren tomorrow. Do you want to cross it right away or wait a day?" Ukko inquired. The flames gave her face and hands a fiery glow. "Sure," she replied absentmindedly, concentrating on the meat and spitting a piece of bone into the fire. "So do you want to wait?" he asked again. "Well, we've still got four more days before we are expected in Carlin," she pointed out. "We're not in a hurry, are we?" Her voice faded and she followed a couple of sparks that had leapt up from the blaze. Her eyes caught his. "Course not," he smiled. "We can take as long as you like." After dinner Ukko carved a large splinter of wood out of a branch and started picking his teeth with it, one of his favorite after-dinner activities. Abigail took a dirty rag and started cleaning the mechanism of her crossbow. Ukko let out a modest burp. An owl hooted nearby. A few crickets launched into a new recital. Cloud and King stood next to the old willow near the water, nuzzling. The lake's surface was smooth, reflecting the lights of Oak Grove on the other side. There were two hills between them and the nearest path and all was quiet. At times like this, Ukko mused, the adventuring life wasn't so bad. Give or take a few goblins. His eyes drifted back to Abigail and he smiled. Sweet Madairika, what a sight to behold, he thought. She hooked her feet behind the wood of the bow, took the bowstring in her hands. Ukko looked at the play of her muscles of her arms as she started to draw the string back. Only the pursing of her lips betrayed the effort. She caught him staring and frowned. "What?" "You're so quiet," he said. "Ears," he added with a grin. Abigail quickly nocked an arrow, aimed the bow at him and fired. Ukko heard the arrow hit the ground next to his shoulder. He swallowed and said quietly: "Alright, I get the hint." Abigail slowly lowered her bow and chuckled. Ukko glanced beside him to see what she had hit. Behind him lay a snake, its head pierced with her arrow. He released his breath in a long, slow sigh. "Koriel guard me! I thought that was payback." "Payback? With a single arrow? Keep dreaming!" They both laughed. "Hey, sorry. There was no time to warn you," she apologized. "Do you think it was poisonous?" Abigail picked up the snake and examined its head and teeth. "Don't know this one. But it was about to give you a lovebite. Would've been a nasty wound in any case." "Thanks, Abby," he said sincerely. "It's good to know you got my back." She flashed a smile at him, more grateful that he had used her name than anything else. After a short inspection of the sight she put the bow and the cleaning rag away. She got up and walked down to the edge of the water. In the light of the rising Eyes of Koriel she unfastened the buckles of her chainmail shirt. Ukko couldn't help but stare. She took the shirt off and put it on a large boulder near the water. Her belt pouch and sheathed dagger were put on top of it. She managed to take her boots off without unceremoniously limping around on one foot. Then she slowly stripped her legs of the padded armor. She was now only dressed in a long shirt that used to be white but which had now reverted to a more neutral grey. From not more than twenty feet away Ukko was mesmerized. From her long legs, muscled yet graceful, and the curve of her hips to the swell of her breasts and the outlines of her nipples, clearly visible through the shirt. She was breathtaking. He could hardly believe this was the same person who had drunk him under the table two weeks ago in Woolfson Bridge. He dreaded the moment she would step behind the horses and take off the shirt. But she just turned her back to him and slowly lifted her shirt. In his mind's eye he envisioned them together, his hands at the small of her back while he... Ukko blinked his eyes to get rid of that train of thought. But he wondered why he'd never even considered trying to get her into bed with him. A small voice inside him answered, because friends are too valuable to take advantage of. And you're not like Dlanor. Abigail folded her shirt and bend down to put it on top of her armor, giving him a broad view of her butt, hips and the treasure, that lay between them. If she were putting on a show for him, Ukko thought, it was definitely working. He had a raging hardon which started to become painful. Abigail started taking off her pieces of jewelry, bending down each time to drop a piece in one of her boots. Finally she stepped into the water and slowly waded towards the deeper parts of the lake, her hips and ass swaying. She looked over her shoulder. "You're not going to let swim on my own, are you?" she called. Ukko raised his hand in response. He gathered some branches and threw them on the fire. He unfastened his leather belt and thought about stalling. For a while he was distracted by loosening the straps of his jerkin and by the time he dropped his pants his erection had withered enough for him not to embarrass himself in case he was just imagining things. The water was cold enough to be refreshing and still warm enough for comfort. "Did you ever do this when you were younger?" Abigail asked, treading water as he swam towards her. "Never." "Come on, a farmboy like you? You never swam naked at night? Weren't there girls on your farm?" "They worked me too hard. I was too tired to do anything at night." He found out he could just touch the stones on the bottom with his toes. He found an elevated rock with a smooth surface and stood on it. They were just grinning stupidly at each other for a moment. "Are you tired now?" Ukko shook his head slowly at the loaded question. She nearly tripped on his toes, lost her balance and regained it when he put his arms around her. Her arms slipped around his neck and her groin slowly rubbed against his, leaving little doubt about what she wanted. The warm, smooth skin of her back felt great under his wandering hands. His member hardened again and nuzzled her left thigh. Still, there appeared something unsaid, so he stopped momentarily to face her. "Wait. Why now, Abby?" He was surprised to see a tear running down her cheek. She started to turn and let go of him, but he grabbed her wrists and made her look up again. When she spoke her voice was strained. "Look, I don't want to sleep alone tonight. I can't. I'm afraid." "Afraid? You think we'll see more goblins? Don't worry about them. Drop me in the Abyss, I don't think there's anybody in this entire Duchy who can get the drop on us." "Ukko, you don't understand. There is a... a part of me that likes the pain and the blood and the killing. Sometimes, when things get close, something takes over and I find myself grabbing a goblin's head and smashing its skull against a wall, over and over and I enjoy it. And everytime it happens it kills a little bit of me inside. And it scares me to death." Ukko felt uncomfortable with her confession. A man could go insane if he dwelt on all the blood that he'd shed at the point of his sword. "Abby, what do you want me to say? They wanted to kill us, it was us or them." "Don't let me sleep alone tonight," she said in a small voice. "I need to feel... alive. Just tonight." Ukko realized he could as easily fall in love with this woman as he could slip off the rock they were standing on. He wasn't about to confuse the issue by saying so. He knew he wanted to possess this sensual being, to know what she would sound like in the heat of passion and to see the movements of her slender form and sleek feminine muscles, striving towards perfection in a rather different art than unarmed combat. "Please?" she pleaded. Ukko nodded, cradled her face and spoke softly. "Abby, you don't need to beg with me. I am here for you." She smiled in relief. Her hand moved downwards and tentatively ran her finger up his member. "And rather prominently," she said slyly, the tension broken. "Not so fast, woman!" Ukko laughed. He grabbed her buttocks, lifted her out of the water and flipped her over backwards. She surfaced gasping for air. In a low voice she growled: "Oh, now you're going to get it!" "I'm soo scared!" he cooed. He started a quick crawl to get some distance between them. She grabbed a foot and yanked him underwater. They both surfaced seconds later, facing each other. Abigail splashed water in his face and smiled playfully. Ukko liked to see that she enjoyed herself and was determined to keep her spirits up. She'd never smiled much, at least not as much as he would like. He splashed back and dove underwater. He encountered a smooth leg and pulled on it. They wrestled and tried to push the other down. When they hit the pebble-littered bottom, Abigail pulled him close. Ukko felt her soft lips caress his, reminding him of their plans for the night. It was some time before they got tired of chasing each other and got out of the water. They shared a blanket and lay down next to the fire to dry. When by mutual consent the course of events for this night had been decided upon, neither one of them was in a great hurry to consummate their desire. They both wanted to draw out the experience. For a while they were content to hold each other and stare into the flames of the fire. Abigail smiled at him. He smiled back. It was infectious and she found she couldn't stop grinning. She stuck out her tongue at him and shook her head, spraying his face with drops of water. Ukko tickled her and she laughed hysterically. They kissed, softly. He stroked her face with surprising tenderness, slowly licking her right ear. Journey to Carlin "Ahh, praise Madairika," Abigail moaned. Thankfully her ears had lost none of their sensitivity. It was as if they were directly connected to her nipples and what she liked to call her private garden. Suddenly eager to be joined, she slipped her hand down and grasped his shaft, now more rigid than ever. Ukko grunted in appreciation but continued licking her, following her jawline and neck. Slowly massaging his rod Abigail asked breathlessly: "You'll tell me if I'm going too fast for you?" Ukko groaned: "Uhh... do as you... ahh... please. I'm yours..." With satisfaction she noticed that his head was as slippery as she was. Sitting up briefly she leaned back and slowly let his shaft enter her garden, all the while watching his face. They both sighed deeply as she slid down. After a few moments she rested her buttocks against his hips, his member firmly lodged inside her. "Madairika, bless this union..." Abigail began. "And the next!" they both said, collapsing in laughter about the old joke. They slowly moved against each other, trying to find the rhythm. Her hard nipples dragged across his, adding fuel to their passion. Ukko admitted to himself that during sword practice he had wondered how the young woman, at the time performing some complicated movement, would look and feel in this position. Now he knew there was no comparison. Her warm wetness was a silk glove around him; her softness and smooth curves were velvet under his roaming hands. The smile on her face, the look in her eyes and the knowledge that it was there because of him just made it so much better. Abigail was making purring noises from the back of her throat. Her hair, which gleamed in the moonlight, was still partially wet and tousled. The rhythm they followed matched the chant in her head: we're doing it, we're doing it! Finally!! Ukko marvelled at her small breasts, which hardly swayed despite the long and deliberate thrusts of her hips. He wanted to know what the dark, hardened nipples would taste like, but there was time enough; for the time being he satisfied himself by pulling and twisting those two heated points of pleasure. Abigail felt as if she'd slipped into a hot bath. Heat flowed from different parts of her body towards her loins, where it accumulated. She looked down to where their bodies were joined, her matted hairs mingling with his darker ones; to where his member entered and filled her private garden, which seemed to be burning with need. Soon she felt the tying of a knot in her stomach, the familiar knot that kept expanding. It was too fast, but she was unable to stop herself. Her nipples were tingling in time with her heartbeat, which was going faster and faster. He reached out and sharply pinched her right nipple. That send her over the edge. With a loud scream that silenced the cricket choir she exploded into orgasm. She tried to keep up her movements while the hot waves coursed through her frame. His hands supported her hips, helping her along. She felt herself gripping him with great force, felt her heart match that delicious pounding she felt throughout her loins. Ukko tried to keep up the rhythm without giving in to the stars himself. Trying to counter the feeling of her warm, wet sheath moving around him and the sound of her continuous moaning in his ears, he thought of goblin-babies and tax-collectors. She helped by trying to dig her nails into his shoulders. Abigail ground her pubic bone into his, drawing out her pleasure. The moment passed and their movements slowed. When the last waves had passed she opened her eyes again. She still felt the blood run through her nipples and fingertips. With a blush on her cheeks she sighed: "Thank you Madairika! I missed that." "You are so beautiful when you reach the stars," he told her. Catching her breath she felt that he was still hard. Recalling an intensive two-hour battle-practice she wondered how long their stamina would last. Neither of them had broken a sweat yet. It would be a lot of fun to find out, she thought wickedly. "I am curious what you will look like." Eager to join the stars once more she started to move again. After she had had three more orgasms they tried out other positions, the Autumn Crane, the Faceless Unicorn. When they switched to Butterfly they were both panting from exertion. Ukko leaned on his arms and licked the sweat of her forehead. She tasted salty. "Can you give me one more?" she asked hopefully. Madairika, I'm getting greedy, she thought. I've joined the stars eight times in one night and I want more! "I'll try sweetheart, but I'm almost ready to go. Can't you feel it?" Slightly embarrassed by her selfishness she nodded. "I'll let you go. I had plenty - it's your turn now." She fondled his jewels and her hips started a gentle rhythm. Ukko groaned. Whether he moved or not, his pleasure kept mounting. It wouldn't be long before his companion, now writhing under and around him, would send him on his journey. "Are you..." he started to ask. "Safe? Yes, I'm in the middle of my... unngh... safe period." Abigail flung her arms around him and sped up her movements. "You can spend yourself inside of me... nnghh...." Her private garden, which by now felt like a mountain river in spring, had covered his rod with copious amounts of her juices. Soft liquid noises joined the other sounds of their lovemaking. "Ohh... actually I insist..." she panted. Putting her hands on his hips she tried to coax him to greater speed. She felt his member expand inside her and realized he was almost gone. To her excitement the warmth inside her concentrated once again into a fiery ball which was growing rapidly. If they timed it right they might leave together! She pulled him close and whispered: "Almost going, dear Ukko? So am I... you better be careful or we might go together..." Her sultry comments and her soft, sweaty body sliding beneath him almost send him away. Ukko gritted his teeth and tried to slow down, but Abigail would have none of it. "I don't know if I'm ready to... share a Lover's Journey with you. That's rather... nhhh... inappropriate for a lady on the first night, I mean... I hardly know you." The words added fuel to the fire they both felt building inside them. "Yes, that would be very bad," Ukko agreed. "Oh Gods... luckily I'm a gentleman... won't - won't take advantage of your - ahhh right there... of your enthusiastic mood." "I'm - I'm grateful," she croaked. "But as the man said... shit happens." "What man? You... uhh... seeing somebody else?." "Oh Ukko... shut up..." she panted. Amazingly, neither one of them had left yet. It was almost a contest of strengths, the muscles in their arms and legs strained and their minds set to launch the other into heaven. "I think not... Ladies first..." "No, go with me," she pleaded. "Go with me, please... now!!" Ukko drove his member all the way inside her and let himself go. Abigail gasped when she felt his hot streaks up inside her, releasing in time with the tightening of her own inner muscles. Then the fireball exploded in her and she was consumed by the flames. Ukko growled as her release fuelled his. He gripped her shoulders and thrust again, and again. She retaliated by locking her ankles behind his back and drawing that delicious member inside her burning garden, quenching and fueling her fire at the same time. They stared at each other's eyes, smiling and panting, trying to capture the moment. But eventually the sensations dulled and their movements slowed. By unspoken agreement he stayed inside her. She traced the contours of his shoulder blades, enjoying the closeness. Every small movement still caused some muscles to contract, which in turn still caused warm, gentle waves for both of them. Abigail tested all her muscles and found herself satisfied. The bruises on her shoulders told her she truly had made him lose control. She smiled quietly. It was only two more days until they would arrive in Carlin. Maybe I can stretch it to three, she thought. * * * Ukko woke up midmorning. A few muscles in his back protested as he shifted, reminding him of the night before. He became aware of the warm body next to him. He opened his eyes and saw Abigail resting on her side, looking at him. "Morning." "Hey you," he replied. Ukko let his eyes wander over her smooth curves. Sunrays caressed her thigh and shoulder, adding an angelic quality to her beauty. If Madairika would ever walk among mortal men, he mused, this is the body she would choose. She stared back, as she had done for a while. She ached in places long forgotten. But it felt good, a testament to their labors. She felt better than she had for an unhealtily long period of time. "You're brooding again," he remarked. "It's nothing at all... I just wondered what you were thinking," she smiled. "If you had any...." "...regrets? No, of course not." That came out a bit too quickly, he realized, so he added: "No, really, I don't. Last night was the best I ever had." Ukko felt guilty the moment he said it. It was as if he'd said: you were a great lay, thanks. See you around. The sex had been fantastic, for sure, but hadn't it been more than that? "How about you?" "It was alright," she conceded. "Nine times alright if memory serves correctly!" Ukko said indignantly. She laughed. "No, we were good together," she said seriously. Ukko smiled. "Oh yes." He relished the simple intimacy of pushing his fingers through hers. "I've been meaning to ask you. The night before last, when I asked you if there was anything else you wanted, you just smiled. Care to tell me what it was, or is it what I think it was?" Abigail almost blushed but realized they were past that point by now. "We pretty much covered everything I wanted you to do that night. Too bad I practically had to throw myself at you, before you noticed me," she teased. "Hey, I noticed alright. I'm just a guy who needs a bit more reassurance than Dlanor. I don't have all that much experience with women. And they don't usually throw themselves at me, you know.." "Their loss," she quipped and gave him a quick peck. She got up and took her grey shirt. Stretching her arms above her head she let the shirt slide down over her shoulder and breasts. She donned her clothes and armor in methodical, practiced movements, covering more and more parts of her body. Watching this was, strangely enough, as exciting as watching her strip, Ukko thought. But he knew it was time to move on. Just for tonight, she had said. He might wish it had been more than just sex, but that would not make it so. After eating the last of the berries they gathered yesterday it was time for training. Abigail had made a wreath of twigs and leaves and hung it up on the old willow. They took turns in shooting arrows with Abigail's crossbow. A few times she had to correct his stance. Ukko was distracted more than ever by the feel of her hands on his wrists and arms. He forcibly emptied his mind and tried to capture the moment of release. The arrow almost missed the improvised target. If Abigail noticed, she didn't let on. Then they duelled. First one sword against the other, then two each. He with his two longswords and she with her longsword and her silver dagger. Dancing around each other, parry and strike, block and thrust. They worked up a good sweat, but the nagging feeling Ukko had had for a while remained. They took a refreshing swim afterwards, but neither one of them tried to strike up a conversation. They avoided looking at each other. As they got out of the water Ukko wanted to tell her how much he had enjoyed the closeness between them. And how he would like it to continue. He stared at her bare back while she stripped the water off her arms. But he just couldn't find the right words. They got dressed and packed their gear without a word spoken. This is bloody ridiculous, he thought, as they mounted their horses and rode off eastwards. They crossed the Wren around noon, despite their earlier agreement to wait a day. Ukko wanted to suggest they tried to catch some fish for dinner, but recalled that she hated eating fish. After staying at the lake a bath was hardly necessary, so they only stopped long enough to let their mounts drink. The sun was near the horizon when Abigail spotted a wild boar. She managed to kill it with only two arrows and they decided to make camp right there and then. "Hey, there's a farm up ahead. I'll see if I can buy some bread, ok?" Ukko announced. "Ask them if they got fruit!" she called as he rode off. She took the harnas and saddle off her mare and started looking for the brush in the saddlebags. * * * "Afternoon," Ukko greeted the elderly farmer who was sitting on a wooden bench in front of his house enjoying the sunset. The farmer got up and raised sun-tanned and gnarled hand. "Afternoon, stranger." "My companion and I are a bit short on food and I wondered if I could buy some bread. And some fruit if you have some," he explained. "Maybe..." the farmer replied. He eyed the warrior suspiciously. "Are you going to pay for it as well?" Ukko grinned and shook his purse. "My sovereigns are as good as the next man's, farmer." "And your swords as sharp as the next man's," the old man added dryly. "Let's see those sovereigns, stranger." Ukko dismounted and walked towards him, keeping his hands away from his swords. The farmer relaxed somewhat and they bargained. A little later Ukko rode off with fresh supplies. He'd paid a bigger amount than was reasonable, but being a farmer's son, he knew what nothing came easy for these people. Working from sunrise to sunset just to keep the bread on the table. The life you didn't want to lead, a small voice inside reminded him. Adventurers or trackers, like himself, could just try and hijack another orc patrol or smoke out a goblin hole and earn some quick sovereigns. So is that it, the voice asked. Is there a future in the quick and easy life? Don't be ridiculous, he told himself. I paid my dues. Besides, I have great friends, I can handle anyone wielding a sword. And I got a wonderful woman. You got a handful of nothing, the voice reminded him. She's a friend who didn't want to sleep alone last night. She's not "your woman". Ukko threw back his head and cried out in frustration. He was thinking in circles again. Riding back to where he'd left Abigail, he noticed a trail of broken off twigs and flattened grass joining his old trail. He wasn't sure what the signs told him; she had taken time to tell him about tracking and some telltale signs and now he wished he'd paid more attention. Coming close to where she'd shot the boar he heard voices. From right behind that group of trees. He saw some faint movement and he recognized her voice - she seemed agitated. Riding around the copse of trees Ukko saw four horses tied to a couple of birches. Abigail stood with her back to Cloud, the brush still in her hand. Surrounding her were four young men. One of whom had grabbed hold of her wrist and threatened her with a dagger. Abigail yelled something at him. The men turned their heads and looked at him, distracted for a moment. Ukko felt a rage taking hold of him. With a scream he jumped from the saddle onto the smallest guy, knocking him flat on the ground. He immediately went for the next one, wringing his hands around the man's neck. He buried his thumbs into the soft tissue of the throat until the eyes of his opponent were bulging. The others hesitated for a moment. The one holding Abigail shouted something and the fourth one, a big barrel-chested guy, stepped towards him. Ukko let go of his victim, who sagged to the ground making gagging noises. His fist struck the man in the middle of his chest. The man hit him on the jaw, but by now the pain was just feeding his frenzy. Determined to make it hurt, he whacked the back of his fist over the man's mouth. The big guy started to spit up blood and sagged through his knees. Ukko made a run for the one holding Abigail. The man let go of her and waved his dagger in front of him to ward him off. Ukko ducked under the arm and punched him square in the crotch. The man doubled in pain and dropped the dagger. Ukko grabbed the man's index and middle finger and snapped them like dry twigs. Ignoring the man's cries he grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and drove him straight into the nearest tree. Since the damn guy didn't want to go down he started pounding his fist into the man's right side. And again. "Ukko, that's enough!" someone shouted. "Stop it!." He came to his senses and looked up, panting. The other three men were limping to their horses. Abigail stood next to him and covered his fist with her hand. "Let them go," she spoke softly. Ukko took a deep breath and grabbed a handful of greasy hair. "If you ever touch my friend again I will come back and finish you off," he hissed. "Nod if you understand.." "What do you care... she's just a half-breed!" the man wheezed, cradling his broken fingers with his other hand. "Nod - if you - under - stand!!" Ukko said through gritted teeth. He forcefully yanked the man's head up and down. "Good boy. Now clear off before I cut off your manhood and feed it to my horse." The man madly scrambled away from him and ran towards his horse. They watched the men spurring their horses into a gallop. "Farmhands I think. Thought they could have some fun with me. They surprised me," she added unnecessarily. "Are you... did they..." He cleared his throat. "...do anything?" She smiled warmly. Her hand moved to his heaving chest, a feathery light touch that send shivers all the way through the armor. "No, they didn't. You got my back." He nodded, picked up the assailant's dagger and turned to examine it in the sunlight. He was relieved she didn't berate him for that spectacle he had just put on. He whistled for King and walked away from her, glad to create some distance between them. Abigail looked at the ground. The moment had passed. He hadn't even given her a chance to find the words to thank him. She resumed brushing Cloud with slow strokes, feeling disappointed and relieved at the same time. Relieved that he hadn't pressed her why a couple of dumb farmhands had managed to catch her off-guard like that. And disappointed that she had missed the chance to take him in her arms and kiss him and... seduce him again, she confessed to herself. Eesyan, grant me wisdom, she thought. I don't know what I'm doing. I need to control myself. Look what one night of love has done to us. No... no, she corrected herself. A night of sex. It was just lust. A very relaxing and very much needed physical exercise. And undoubtedly the most tender and passionate sex she had ever had. Why don't you ask him nicely, she thought sarcastically. Hey Ukko, come and service me again. He's a man. Men don't turn down a pair of warm thighs when it's offered freely. She gritted her teeth and closed her eyes. This is getting me nowhere, she thought. I just have to act normal and pick up our friendship, just like he does. He just said it: I'm a friend. Cloud looked round enquiringly, to see why her mistress had stopped brushing. Abigail smiled a wry smile and ran her hand over the mare's nose. Cloud winked at her as if she understood. After unsaddling his horse, Ukko started to skin the boar. He had done skinning many times and knew how to get every ounce of meat out of the animal and keep the skin intact at the same time. Relying on his experience he tried to calm down the torrent of thought that still raged inside him. After a while he discovered he'd ruined a perfectly good boarskin. Journey to Carlin The cooking went better. Slightly. Abigail squatted beside him. "Smells good!" she commented. Ukko grumbled something and added a few herbs. Half an hour later they ate pork stew. They talked about different recipes for stew and shared a few jokes about some of Ukko's early culinary experiments. Ukko was more at ease now and was no longer distracted by her long, searching looks. They were two flexible, well-adjusted adults, comfortable with themselves and around one another. He pulled out his waterskin and offered it to her. "Want some apple wine?" Abigail's eyes lit up. "You bought apple wine? What's the occasion?!" she teased. She put the waterskin to her mouth and took a swig. She felt the liquid warm her chest as it went down. She took another swig and gave the waterskin back to him. She stretched luxuriously and sighed in utter contentment. A nagging voice inside said: Gods, you are such a harlot. Can you be any more obvious? Trying hard to ignore her pose, Ukko asked: "Are you trying to drink me under the table again?" Abigail folded her hands behind her head and stared off into the distance. "Woolfson Bridge," she said dreamily. "I really liked those people, Ukko. We ought to go back to that town someday." "Couldn't agree more." Ukko sat back and took off his boots. "I had a silly thought this afternoon," he started. "I overpaid the farmer for the food, because I know how hard he has to work. And I thought how I had left my dad's farm, for the 'quick-and-easy' life.." Abigail frowned. "Quick and easy?" "That was the silly thought. It is neither quick nor easy. And you were right, you know. The night before last, when I was fighting one of those goblins, I... I kind of felt I was killing a little boy. It's disgusting when you really think about it." Abigail propped herself up on her elbows and nodded seriously. Trying to get rid of the filthy taste in his mouth, Ukko took a swig from the apple wine. "Then I was wondering what I'm doing it all for. Will I be bashing goblins ten years from now or is there a big plan for all of us?" Abigail scoffed. "Sure, just ask Revelc. We'll be rich and famous." "Oh I don't care for fame. And I am rich already. Got my good health, got my friends, got... well, you know." Ukko sipped his apple wine and studied the way her hair cascaded down her shoulders and how her long, slender fingers fidgeted with her necklace. He idly thought about how wonderful those fingers had felt on him. "So what about you?" "Me? Fame?! I need fame like I need a boil on my backside." She wrapped her necklace around her index finger. Gods, please make her stop doing that, Ukko begged silently. Preferably before I tear her clothes off. Abigail stared into the flames and sighed. "And I could own every house and patch of land in Briar's Veil," she said quietly. "And it still wouldn't change the way how people thought about me. As soon as I was old enough to know the difference, they let me know the difference." There was only a hint of bitterness in her voice. "Five years ago I lived on the streets of Katar. Most of my friends were mixed. One night my best friend Andrea got raped. I call the cityguard and they catch the men in the act. They let them go, because, why, it's not against the law to rape a mongrel. Instead the Captain of the guard arrests Andrea on charges of disturbing of the peace. And obviously, when our friend Borric, who had an Orc father somewhere out west, went after the men to take revenge and got killed, that wasn't against the law either." Her eyes were leagues away now. "There's not a lot that came easy for me, Ukko. I know what it means to live like a beggar. I hated it but I'd do it again in a heartbeat if people would accept me as I am. I want to be proud of who I am, of what I am. I want them to answer for what they did to Andrea and Fedya. And I want to stop being outside the law. I hate being a walking excuse for rape and pillage. That is what I want." "That's all I want," she concluded. Ukko looked at her. It was hardly a wish any mortal man, no matter how powerful or wealthy, could fulfill. But she dared to dream. And he loved her for it. He doubted that she ever would see it come true, but if anyone could make a difference, it would be her. Life seemed to happen around her. "I know, kind of far-fetched," she said softly. "Changing the law is one thing, but changing someone's idea... It's just - people are stubborn, Abby. Stubborn and stupid, and probably not in that order. Most of them don't like admitting they're wrong. Not to themselves and certainly not to others..." Looking into the flames, he added: "But if anyone can make them change their mind, I think you can. You're one of the kindest people I know and anybody knowing you longer than a few moments will realize that and start looking further than your ears..." For a while only the crackling of twigs in the fire could be heard. Abigail smiled to herself. It was the first time she had ever mentioned this dream to anyone and he hadn't dismissed it as idle fancy. And even when he was serious, he managed to give her a compliment. "Like you did?" she said coyly. Ukko groaned softly. "Are you going to remind me of that for the rest of my life?" He thought ruefully back to the day Dlanor had introduced Abigail to the group. Transfixed by her beauty he'd tried to be graceful but all he could say was: "I'm Ukko. Nice ears." Abigail smirked. "Well, for a few years more anyway." "Anyway. Even if you have to do it one stubborn commoner at a time... I'll help." "I hardly think you standing behind them waving your swords around is going to help," she laughed. "I was thinking more along the lines of buying them drinks." In only two days they would arrive in Carlin, Ukko reflected. Just two more days to decide if there was there was more between them than just friends. If there was anything at all. If he wanted to tell her how he felt, he had to tell her before they joined the others. He knew himself. He didn't have the courage to breach the subject with anyone else present, let alone the rest of the group. It was ridiculous really, that he was afraid of being laughed at by the same people who had saved his life and whose lives he had helped save. He had laughed in the face of troll warriors, insulted a storm giant and he just didn't have it in him to approach Abigail and tell her the truth. "Speaking of drinks, can I have some more...." Ukko was already offering the waterskin to her. "...apple wine. Thank you." Her hand moved over his as she reached for the wineskin and lingered. Time narrowed down as the inviting smile she gave him melted away any control he had built up in the past hours. She won't mind one kiss, he reasoned. After all, what would one kiss be after last night? He grabbed her wrists and pushed her backwards, putting his weight on his arms to force her onto her back. The waterskin fell to the ground, the wine splattering over her leg. "Ukko... what the... mmmhh... No!! Ukko!! Mmhh... stop it!!" She struggled wildly to get her hands free, trying to get away, but he held her down with considerable ease. When he relaxed his grip somewhat she bit his nose. He screamed in pain and seemed to come to his senses. He let go of her wrists and his face went ashen. "Not so, Ukko," Abigail panted. "Never... that way." She sat up again and rubbed her wrists. Guhl, drop me to the Abyss, he thought. I just tried to force her. It's over. "I don't know what happened to me, I wanted... I-I mean," he stammered. "I can't get you out of my mind, I keep thinking of how it was last night and I know you only want to be friends, but ever since I met you, I hear your voice singing in my head and feel your hands on my face. Madairika help me, Abby, but you drive me crazy..." Abigail was stunned. She drove him crazy? The blood rushed to her face and she put her hands on the ground to stop them from trembling. "Go on," she whispered. Ukko cleared his throat. Maybe not all was lost. "I desire you, Abby. I want to be with you again. I want you so much it hurts. I want to hear and feel you next to me and I want to make you scream and... and...." Abigail put her hand over his mouth and repeated hoarsely: "No, no... go on." His eyes widened when he realized her meaning. For a moment was frozen. Then he took her hand and slowly licked her palm. Abigail swallowed visibly as he sucked her index finger in his mouth and slowly circled it with his tongue. Her wildly beating heart sped up her breathing. She felt herself growing warm and fuzzy. Without letting go of her finger, Ukko reached for her and stroked her cheek. She closed her eyes and tilted her head give him access to her neck. Ukko felt incredibly alive. He hadn't misread her after all. She accepted him. Wanted him! The woman he knew so well as friend and comrade in arms was here with him, for him, warm and pliable, smelling of blossoms in the spring. He shifted weight to give his erection more room. She excited him to no end and judging from her face and heavy breathing, the feeling was mutual. He gently bit her earlobe and kissed a trail down to her throat. Abigail shivered under his touch. They stood up and kissed again, hungrily, almost devouring each other. His tongue came out to lick her lips and she tried to suck it in. Her hands were frantically untying the straps of his jerkin and loosening the shirt underneath. He ripped her shoulder piece off and bit her gently in the nape of her shoulder. Impatiently, Abigail drew her dagger, cut the unyielding straps in a swift move and yanked the jerkin off his shoulders. She pulled up his shirt and licked his chest, inhaling his masculine scent. Ukko slid a hand inside her linen shirt and cupped a breast, twisting and pulling her stiff nipple. A gasp escaped from her lips. One of her hands slipped inside his pants and started stroking his rigid member. He moved his hands down her back, down to her buttocks and in between. Her knees buckled as she felt him at her wetness, rubbing her pleasure bead. Her world shrank to that spot between her legs. If he would just come inside her, she wanted him so badly... With his pants at the ankles Ukko suddenly turned her around and lifted her shirt. A wave of excitement washed over her. Mare and Stallion! Yes! Oh, Madairika, don't let me fall down, she prayed. She grabbed the tree with both hands. Then all coherent thought left her as she felt his head against her entrance and his warm hands on her hips pulling her back to him, onto him. She felt him sliding deep inside and moaned. They fit so well and it was so fine. Ukko felt her warm wetness caress him, the clenching of her inner muscles and her warm ass on his hips and feared he might go without her. He started a rhythm of short, hard thrusts. Abigail sighed in relief as she felt her pleasure mounting towards the stars. Shifting her feet for better balance she started to buck her hips back at him, each move producing more fiery jolts inside her, stretching her as if she were a bow string and he was so hard inside her and speeding up with every move and stroking her legs, now trembling with the effort to remain standing and the heat grew bigger and threatened to swallow her and then fireworks started to go off inside her head. Ukko felt her muscles contract around him and could no longer contain himself. "Abby..." he groaned as he ejected in her tightening sheath. Abigail moaned blissfully and kept moving against his hardness, not feeling anything except the wonderful pounding in her loins and the incredible heat where her body joined his. She was floating among the stars. As the pleasure faded they realized how closely they were pressed together. She leaning her back against his chest and stomach, loins and legs almost one and her hands over his. His ragged breathing and hers. The soft liquid sounds of their joining. And finally her tired leg muscles and the wood splinters in her hands. "Abby... let's sit down." "Good idea." She sat in his lap and looked up at him. For a while they just stared at each other, holding and caressing each other, enjoying the closeness. "Listen Ukko... if you want to..." Her voice broke. "I meant, when I feel like I... if-if we have to... oh to the Abyss," she cried in frustration. "Was it good?" he smiled. Her eyes twinkled. "You know it was," she said. "But let me be frank: I loved that and I want more of it. And I was hoping you wouldn't mind to take care of a friend when she wants to...." "But I...." "And of course I'll take care of you when you need to..." "Abby, I hadn't quite..." "So can we agree on a code that we can use when one of us has an... itch that needs taking care of? Because as sure Koriel watches us I don't want to spend an agonizing day like this ever again before we can raise the sheets." "Can I have a word in?" Ukko asked exasperatedly. "I am a bit uncomfortable with that." "Nobody needs to know. I can be discreet." "No, no, I meant that... it's very tempting and all..." Ukko struggled to find the words. "Maybe this is rather forward of me, but..." She softly bit his earlobe and said playfully: "Ukko, you just took me from behind... what have we got left to be bashful about?" "I don't know if this is something that often passes between friends. Or maybe this is some Elvish thing that..." "In some tribes it can be, yes. But it can work for us, right?" "Abby, please. I want you to understand. When we walk I count the steps I am away from you. That when you go for provisions I count how many clouds shift before you are back. Everytime you are sad I am sad. And that everytime I see blood on your face it hurts me in here." He tapped his chest. "Then why didn't you say that before?" she said in a small voice. "You even told that guy I was your friend. That hurt." "But I thought you wanted to be friends. Just for a night, you said and now you proposed this arrangement." He cradled her face gently and looked into her eyes. "Abigail, I don't want an arrangement. I don't want a code. I want you. I need you. I wanted to tell that guy that if he messes my with woman, he messes with me..." "Your woman," she choked up. Ukko nodded hopefully. "Yes." She hugged him fiercely, burying her head in his shoulder. "I am so stupid," she whispered, while she stifled her tears. "Last night was so wonderful - not because I needed it, but because it happened with you. And when I woke up this morning with your arms around me, I knew I had come home. And I wasted an entire day before telling you that. Yes, I'll be your woman. I'll be your retard." After a few moments Abigail started to kiss the side of his neck while he began to fondle her breasts. It's only two days riding to Carlin, Ukko thought absentmindedly. Maybe I can stretch it to three.